Luke Owain Boult speaks with the actor, writer and impressionist Steve Nallon, best known for his role as Thatcher in Spitting Image, about the new political comedy Dead Sheep.
Why the name Dead Sheep?
Believe it or not Dead Sheep is a very funny and dramatic play about a man called Geoffrey who everyone thought was a bit boring! So boring his political adversary Denis Healey said that being attacked by Geoffrey “was like being savaged by a dead sheep.” Hence the title.
Could you sum up the play?
The mouse that roared. Sir Geoffery Howe, also known as ‘Mr Mogadon’, delivered the most devastating attack on Margaret Thatcher in parliament and it essentially destroyed her. Within a week or so she was toast! The play is the lead up to that amazing speech. In modern day terms it would be like Jeremy Corbyn suddenly becoming so electrifying at Question Time that Theresa May ended up saying, “I give up! You win! I’m off!”
Do you think there’s a gap in the market for comedies like Spitting Image today?
It’d be great to bring back Spitting Image! I think it would have been better had Channel Four spent their spare £75 million on reviving those naughty puppets than nicking a tent and a few ovens from the BBC!
What do you think Thatcher’s lasting legacy was?
The fact that even young people have heard of her. She is ‘iconic’, which means to me that she represents more than she actually was. In her case she’s either the Wicked Witch of the West or Britain’s Saviour Queen. Take your pick!
Why do you think Thatcher still remains such an important topic in British politics?
In Harry Potter terms Thatcher is a ‘pure blood’. Total capitalist. Total believer in new law and order. And importantly for today totally anti-European. She had no half measures. It may not have been good for politics but it was certainly great for comedy!
How’s your Theresa May impression?
There is some Margaret Thatcher in Theresa May’s voice but also some Ann Widdecombe! Like Widdecombe, May has two notes in her voice happening at the same time. Not as pronounced as Widdecombe but it is there. The tone and pitch is very similar to Mrs Thatcher, so when the Dead Sheep tour is over I’ll put both together and I’ll see if I can come up with the Thatcher-Widdecombe love child that is our new Prime Minister!
Dead Sheep, New Theatre, Cardiff, Tues 11 – Sat 15 Oct. Info: here.